Plasticizing polyisobutylene utilizing benzoyl peroxide



Patented Nov. 18, 1947 2.430.993 PLASTICIZING POLYISOBUTYLENE UTILIZ- ING BENZOYL PEROXIDE John Rehner, Jr., Westfield, N. 3., and Paul J. Flory, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignors to Standard Oil Development Company, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application March 3, 1944, Serial No. 524.914

The present invention relates to synthetic rubher-like substances and more particularly relates to means for plasticizing high molecular weight linear polymers of mono-olefins.

The linear polymeric hydrocarbon compounds of mono-olefins may be broadly termed polyalkenes. This broad class includes analogous polymers: polyethene,-polypropene, polybutenes and polypentenes, all of which are similarly stable, susceptible to similar oxidation treatment and characteristically substantially saturated linear hydrocarbon polymers, but of these polyalkenes, the preferred types are branched chain linear compounds, which are formed particularly from an iso-mono-olefin, for example, especially isobutone. The preferred branched linear polymers have a structure corresponding to a long chain of saturated carbon atoms containing a number of short alkyl side chains such as methyl or butyl groups.

I The polybutenes may be prepared commercially from a mixture of isobutene and varying percentages of normal butenes, but are derived essentially from the isobutene. It will be understood that the preparation of the high molecular weight polymeric hydrocarbon compounds does not form a part of this invention, and various known methods for producing the hydrocarbon polymers may be used. For example, a polybutene polymer having molecular weight range from 2 Claims. (Cl. 260-36) 800 to 250,000 or more is obtained by contacting the isobutene reactant material with boron fluoride or other Friedel-Crafts catalyst at a temperature range from 10 to 100 C. or lower, the molecular weight depending upon the purity of the reactant, the polymerization temperature and other known controlling conditions.

The molecular weight of these polymers is conveniently determined by a measurement of the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer in solution, preferably in diisobutylene at 20 C. as outlined by E. O. Kraemer in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, volume 30, page 1200 (1938). The preferred form of polymer has an intrinsic viscosity preferably within the range between 0.6

and about 5. This viscosity range, as shown by the work of Paul J. Flory, reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 65, page 372 (1943), corresponds to an actual molecular weight between 120,000 and 3,000,000 (this being equivalent to the Staudinger number, or molecular weight by the Staudinger Method, of approximately 20,000 to 150,000). The preferred range of intrinsic viscosities lies between about 1 and 2.5, corresponding to actual molecular weights of 400,000 to 1,100,000, and corresponding to Staudinger numbers between about 31,000 and 78,000.

The relationship between the intrinsic viscosity of a polymer in solution in diisobutylene at 20 0.,

the S taudinger number and the viscosity average molecular weight is well shown in the following table:

Intrinsic Viscosity Viscosity in Stauriinger A vcraizc Diisohutylene NumbcrXlO- Molecular at 20 C. WcigbtXlO' 40 12. 5 63 6O 18. 7 120 24. 9 185 1. 00 31. 2 264 1. 25 39. 0 373 1. 50 46. 8 495 1. 75 54. 7 630 2. 00 62. 6 775 2. 5 78. l 1, 3. O 93. 7 1. 460 3. 5 109 i, 860 4. 0 2, 300 5. 0 156 3. 250

The "intrinsic viscosity" is given by the equation: (1mm /co where 1 1' is the relative viscosity (ratio of viscosity of solution to that of the solvent) of a dilute'solution of the polymer in diisobutylene at 20 C., and c is the concentration of polymer in gms. per 100 cc. The concentration should be such that (1;) does not exceed about 1.4. (See E. O. Kraemer, Ind. Eng. Chem. 30, 1200 (1938) for the definition of the term intrinsic viscosity desig- -;nated by Staudinger numbers, formerly referred to as molecular weights, are obtained by multiplying by about 312x10 The high moleculiar weight polymers described above have proved to be unsuitable for certain uses, particularly when subjected to shear, due to their molecular breakdown.

According to this invention it has been found that by milling these high molecular Weight isobutylene polymers with organic peroxides, especially at elevated temperatures, it is possible to produce a degraded polymer of narrower molec-- ular weight range than can be obtained by direct synthesis and are therefore less susceptible to breakdown in use. These modified polymers are preferably produced by milling at hot roll temperatures in the neighborhood of 290 F. for about 15 minutes in the presence of 0.1 to 10% of an organic peroxide such as benzoyl peroxide. The

3 4 obtained by treating polyisobutylene with benzoyl time have the roperty or improving viscosity peroxide in this manner. characteristics of and thickening viscous oils.

These modified polymers form stable blends with TABLE I hydrocarbon lubricating oils and effect substan- Added Mixture 5 tial improvement in the viscosity characteris- Polymer Benzoyl Milled at ig ggf tg gg gf tics of such blends when added in small amounts. pl Peroxide Product p t Thus by adding from about 1% to about 10% 01 Per the modified polymer to a hydrocarbon lubriin eating oil the viscosity of the blend is substan- None m "10 1.200 30,500 10 tially increased over a lower temperature range l3 g- 2% to thereby flatten the temperature viscosity 31 10 01030 101500 curve of the mixture. The upper limit of the .0 18 3133 amount of oxidized polymer added varies with 110 013% 111000 the nature of the addition and with the other i3 g-gfg }g-% ingredients blended. Up to about 20% to 30% None 20 01900 311000 of the oxidized polymer may be added with very 3.; a 3 6 good results. Additions of larger amounts may 1 2 154 111000 lead to a viscosity that is excessive for practical 1. 0 310 1120 purposes- ?I0 20 01343 101500 20 The following examples will further illustrate Q 8-23: 3 the nature of this invention with respect to the utilization of the modified polymer as a blending agent in improving the viscosity characteris- It has been found that isobutylene polymer ti f lubricati 01 1th es eat 1 chains having molecular weights of about 00,000 ag ng 1 w r p or less do not further break down in oil under Certain percentages of the modified polymer mechanical shear stresses. From the following products formed in accordance with the given table it is shown that ordinsa g high molecular described examples were added to Samples of a Weight Polymers main 8 0% material hydrocarbon lubricating oil and the blends thus above this crillcall limit 3 Whic? it is i i formed, as well as the blends of oil with the unthat szichf :h g; ycii gagvafio 3 1 912 32; n; tzb lg nloigifieg pollqymleir, user; as a alank, were subjectamoun o e o t e s ea ng ac ion 0 a gear type pum shows that the polymers mod fi y milling with such as that manufactured by the Zenith Prod ben peroxide have much lower Percentages ucts Company, in which the oil is forced through of mponents with molecular weights above this 35 a steel capillary tube about 4 cm. in length and limit, with the result that these polymers wo .06 cm. in radius, at a pressure of 600 lbs/sq. in. show comparatively little molecular degradation The apparatus is arranged in such a manner during use. I that the temperature can be controlled, and the TABLE H Fractionation data on chemically degraded polybutene Original Weight Per Cent of Polymer in Various Fractions Poi er Average ym Molecular Weight Low Fraction Middle Fraction High Fraction Original... 850,000 10.3? below 50,000 smoi. wt.)- 5.7% between 50,000 and 00,000 (mol. wt.) 84.097 above 90.000 (moi. wt. A 72,000 55.1 0 below 50,000 mol. wt.) 31.2% between 50,000 and 90.000 (mol. wt.).... 13.7 a above 00.000 mol. wt. B I 58,000 43.2% below 40,000 (mol. wt.). 41.6% between 40,000 and 80,000 (mol. wt.) 15.27 above 80,000 (mol. wt. O 49.000 39. 4% below 30,000 (mol. wt.). 40.4% between 30,000 and 70,000 (mol. wt.). 20.2% above 70,000 (mol. wt.

A-Milled for 5 minutes at 250-280 F. in the presence of 1% benzoyl peroxide. B= Milled for 10 minutes at 250280 F. in the presence of 1% benzoyl peroxide. CnM illed for 5 minutes at 250280 F. in the presence of 1.5% benzoy peroxide.

A very important use of the modified polymers oil after passage through the capillary may be arises from the fact that they have a certain returned and subjected to any desired number of desirable lubricating character and at the same repeated passes through the capillary.

Terr: III

Homogenizatlon of polybutene by remilling Per Cent Loss in Original Inspections oi Blends viscosity/100,, F. viscosity in Zenith Pug; Temperature W M01 alter Indicat Slope -40F Per Centistokos Viscosity viscosity passes to 0 Cent 'glem peru 216; u opes t 210%. 100%". 40 11. zenith Pump Untreated polymerized lsobutyiene -,0 7. 0 10 4 61- Same alter 200 Cycles in Zenith Pumps at 20 to F. and 600 lbs./sq. in 0.2 1 20 8. 135 26-33 1, 550 0.516 7. 6 12.3 10.0 0.537 Same after 5 Minutes on Rubber Mill at 250- 275 F. using 1% of Benzoyl-peroxide Cstalysh. 7. 15 13, 500 7. 935 25. 55 1, 421 0. 517 15.0 20.4 24,2 0. 553 Sameafter 10min. on Rubber Mill at 250 to 275 F.

using 1% 0i Benzoyiperoxide Catalyst B. 0 11, 700 8. 048 26. 19 1, 542 0. 521 11.8 16. 1 18.4 0.548 Same after 5 Min. on Rubber Mill at 250 to 275 F.

using 1.5% of Benzoylperoxlde Cat 8.8 10, 500 7. 640 25-1 1, 548 0.532 5.8 9. 7 12.7 0.548

1 43.0 cs./ F. after 200 cycles inZenith, 12.6 es./2l0 F. after 200 cycles Zenith.

It is thus evident from the foregoing table that 80 to 50% improvement in shear stability over the untreated polymer can be effected by masticating the polymer at 250-275 F. in the presence of benzoyl peroxide.

The nature and objects of the present invention having thus been set forth and specific embodiments of the same given, what is claimed as new and'useful and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of increasing the plasticity of a normally solid high molecular weight homopolymer of isobutylene which comprises adding to said polymer 0.1% to of benzoyl peroxide and incorporating the said benzoyl peroxide into said polymer by mechanically working the mixture at an elevated temperature of 250 F. to 290 F. for 5 tominutes.

2. The method of increasing the plasticity of a normally solid high molecular weight homopoly- 20 mer of isobutylene which comprises milling the same at, a hot r011 temperature of 250 F. to 290 F. for Ste 20 minutes in the presence of 0.1 to 10% of benzoyl peroxide.

' JOHN REHNER, JR.

PAUL J. F'LORY.

REFERENCES crr n The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date ,Van Peski, (1) July 5, 1938 Wiezevich Dec. 6, 1938 Mueller-Cunradi Nov. 14, 1938 Sparks (1) Nov. 28, 1939 Sparks (2) Nov. 25, 1941 Hopff et a1 Dec. 15, 1942 Koch et al Apr. 27, 1943 Thomas et a1 Aug. 22, 1944 Gerke Mar. 18, 1941 Strother Apr. 13, 1943 Young Aug. 10, 1945 Zaucker Aug. 24. 1943 Davis Nov. 23, 1943 Tuley Aug. 11, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 25, 1941 Germany Nov. 14, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES Durrans, Solvents, London 1938, pages 89 and 90 (4th edition). 

